Jeddah, November 26: Flooding killed at least 48 people in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a heavy downpour, while 900 people were saved, official reports said on Thursday.
Civil defense authorities said 44 people died in the city of Jeddah and four in Mecca. Some were drowned or were killed by collapsing bridges and in car crashes, while the rescue services spokesman said another 900 people had to be rescued after being stranded by the floodwaters caused by rainfall .
The 90-millimeter (3.5-inch) downpour which hit the Red Sea city of Jeddah and its surroundings flooded the roads and tunnels and even brought down a few old houses, said a statement carried by SPA state news agency.
A witness told by telephone he had seen several bodies beside another bus that overturned in the storm.
Major roads remained gridlocked by traffic late on Wednesday after the rain stopped and floodwaters receded, witnesses said.
The storm also stranded hundreds of Muslim pilgrims in buses headed from Jeddah to Mecca for the first full day of the annual hajj.
Traffic accidents were reported on the 80-kilometer (50-mile) stretch from Jeddah to Islam’s holiest city.
About 1.6 million pilgrims have come to Saudi Arabia from abroad for the haj, the world’s largest regular religious gathering, but none were reported among the victims of the flooding.
–Agencies